Songs of 2010 by Glamjack

Here are my favorite songs of 2010.  In no particular order, these are the songs that meant a lot this year.  Some songs were released this year and some were not.  These songs were simply beautiful to dance to and brought a smile to my face.  This list is composed of edits, re-works and re-interpretations and some originals. Happy Holidays and a Happy and prosperous 2011! Enjoy!

Click below to listen:

And I'm (In Love With You) - Andy Butler, Jason Kending
My House - Hercules and Love Affair
I Can't Help It (Dj Mad Mats)
Straight Ahead - Stupid Human
Ol' Dirty Vinyl (U Usded To Know) - Moodymann
Call Me - Mark E
Black Magic Feat. Rebolledo - Superpitcher
Pass It On - Eddie Hooper
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - Sounds Of Inner City
The Sea and the Sky (Padded Cell Remix) - Future Loop Foundation
Spend The Day Without You - Crue-L Grand Orchestra
Stay Free (Dimitri's Re-Edit) - Ashford & Simpson
Lost In Music (The Revenge Re-edit) - Sister Sledge
Easy Money (Todd Terje Rekutt) - Dee Dee Sharp Gamble
There'll Come A Time, There'll Come A Day - Basic Black & Pearl
This Is It (Mad Mats Remix) Kenny Loggins

Deep Space Orchestra

Here is a very interesting and amazing edit I recently discovered by Deep Space Orchestra.  This song is featured on Part 1 of a 3 part series called We Get By With A Little Help... to commemorate their third House is The Cure release.  Part 1 is a limited, vinyl only release by deep house imprint, Kolour.  They came up with a concept where producers pitch in a free track and all proceeds are donated to charity, "helping out someone in need one track at a time".  A sweet idea.  Aside from this amazing concept, it's a great record with some of the biggest names in beatdown edits.  "Dollar"  is a brilliant edit of Steve Spacek's classic tune that takes the listener into new terrains. The other songs are brilliant delivering some great vocal disco by Nicholas and a great edit from Dexter Wansel by OOFT and a very poignant song by Dead Rose Music Company titled "The World Is An Uproar".  This a must have for all you new disco lovers. So please support this great concept and purchase this amazing record.  

Dollar - Deep Space Orchestra - Kolour

December Mix

Wishing you all a Happy Holidays filled with love, beauty, family and peace.  Here is the latest mix from the monthly series by Dj Glamjack.  The "December Mix" is a tour de force of uncharted territory with as wide a spectrum of songs that borderline on the left field side of dance, world and house music.  Lately I have been exploring some mid '70s and mid to late '80s Chicago house as the inspiration for this mix.   The overall feel is very '80s with a few exceptions.  It has very percussive/world music feel as well with some great dubs, accapellas and reworks of some well known songs.  Also, there is a very intense and poignant speech from Charlie Chaplin's movie "The Great Dictator" which is mixed with some interesting beats and has the potential of being the next great house speech for the dance floor.  Enjoy!

December Mix - Dj Glamjack

December Mix by Jack Rivas on Mixcloud

Playlist:

  1.  Tico Tico (Live) -  Urzula Dudziak & Bobby McFerrlin  

  2.  Dancing Machine (Henrik Schwarz Remix ) - The Jackson Five

  3.  For The People by The People -  Ron Basejam

  4.  Time (Clock Of The Heart) (Drumhead Remix) - Culture Club

  5.   Zakir Husain's Masters of Percussion (Live excerpt) - Zakir Husain

  6.   The Unexplained - Ataraxia

  7.   Sangandongo/Speech from "Great Dictator - Niagara/Charlie Chaplin

  8.   It's A Man's World (House Your Body Girl ) - Jackmaster Curt

  9.   It's A Man's World (Club House Mix) - Jackmaster Curt

10.  Love Can Do Anything - Nancy Wilson

11.  And I'm (In Love With You) (Original Version) Andy Butler, Jason Kendig

12.  I Am Dead (Hercules And Love Affair Remix) - Jori Hulkkonen

13.  Your Love (Dub Rodapella Mix) - Jamie Principle

Stay Free

It is time to post not one but three timeless classics to start off the weekend.  Starting with one of my old time favorite dance songs that never seem to tire my ears, "Stay Free".  The message here is simple and powerful.  Loving someone and let them stay free.   Created by legendary husband and wife songwriting/production team simply know as Ashford and Simpson.  Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson have written, produced and performed some of the most amazing, most compelling and deep timeless songs ranging from R&B, Soul, Disco, Motown and Gospel from the 20th Century.   I am loving the new re-edited treatment Dimitri From Paris has done to this amazing song. Stripping it down to it's essence giving it almost an instrumental feel without loosing the song's integrity taking the listener to pure bliss.   Also,  here is another dance classic, the disco 12" mix of  "Over and Over".  Released as a dance single in 1977, this song inspired Sylvester to make his own version which is also featured here.  All amazing dance classics that are high on my list of all time favorites to enjoy!  Speaking of lists, stay tune for my list of favorite songs from 2010 coming soon!

Stay Free (Dimitri's Re-Edit) - Ashford & Simpson - Warner Bros. Records



Over And Over (12" Disco Mix) - Ashford And Simpson - Warner Bros. Records



Over And Over (Special 12" Disco Mix) - Sylvester - Fantasy

Sweet Sixteen

Here is a recent discovery called "Sweet Sixteen" by an amazing '70s group called Diga Rhythm Band.   This is the brain child of legendary drummer from the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart.  Initially inspired by Native American tribal beats and the thumping sound of a hand-turned water pump, Hart teamed with legendary Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain creating the Diga Rhythm Band in 1975.   This was considered a groundbreaking album at the time which introduced percussion driven, globally minded grooves to an entirely new audience.  It was a drum freak's wet dream. The LP was considered ahead of its time by blending rhythms from different cultures by adding a jazzy/latin flair that took the listener to hypnotic heights making this a left field disco favorite.  This song was perfect for the early in the evening warm up designed to jump start people's temperature on the dance floor.    I have been a fan of Zakir's  music for quite sometime and was pleasantly surprised to learn about his side project of his. Simply brilliant! Enjoy

Sweet Sixteen - Diga Rhythm Band

My House

Here is a  sneak peak titled "My House" from the amazing Hercules and Love Affair for all you disco enthusiast to embrace on this earth.  Hercules and Love Affair is a musical project from New York based DJ Andrew Butler.  Their first single "Blind" released in 2008 featured the brilliant voice of Antony Hegarty (lead vocalist from Antony & The Johnsons) from their self-titled debut album and made the top ten list in several countries that same year.  I was fortunate to witness their first live show at the now defunct Studio B in Williamsburg that same year.   Their live sets are pure magic capturing the fusion of synth and live instruments delivering the pure elements of dance music while infusing them with smart and haunting vocals with such a passion never heard before.  Even though their sound makes direct references and inspirations that are deeply rooted on the foundations of classic disco and house songs from the mid to late 70's, late 80's and early '90s from New York and Chicago, they have managed to capture a new fresh outlook delivering a totally fresh sound that is both innovating, new and unique.  Their  new sophomore album entitled Blue Songs will be released January 2011 featuring Bloc Paty's Kele Okereke, transgender Venezuelan singer Aerea Negrot who is clearly evoking the fabulous Sylvester doing 80's house amazingly, Shaun J. Wright, and Hercules regular Kim Ann Foxman who has grown tremendously as a singer.   I have previewed some of the tracks and it's obvious this is less disco focused and take us forward to a more house sound that is clearly inspired from the golden era of house music from 1986-1992.  "My House" is a testament to that brilliant period.   Thank you Hercules from saving and reinvigorating dance music.  Enjoy!

My House - Hercules and Love Affair